At the end of the West Liberty City Council meeting Tuesday, Sept. 20, Katie McCullough resigned as mayor but before McCullough did so she appointed city councilmember Cara McFerren as Mayor Pro-tem.
“I am at a point in my life where I need to take care of my two children,” McCullough said after she announced she was resigning. “And where I need to focus on their mental health and my mental health.”
McCullough said she appreciated all the support she received from city council, city staff and community members but at that point in time being mayor wasn’t something she would be able to continue to do. She said she was sorry for that.
“I am hoping that I was able to lay some of the groundwork for some of the important work that is going on,” McCullough added. “I also would say that right now in this world, in the climate in politics, in everything that this is not the time to learn about the job and I am a strong enough leader to know when new leaders need to be found.”
She said it was her hope that people who knew a little bit more about being mayor and were quicker studies than her.
“I have changed the Mayor Pro-tem position to be Cara McFerren because she is the most senior person on this council now,” McCullough added. “I feel like she asks the right questions. I’ve seen good work with the fire department. I’ve seen her reach across the aisle so to speak to make sure that moves forward.”
McCullough said she communicated the decision to change who mayor pro-tem would be to City Manager David Haugland, City Clerk Lee Geertz and McFerren before the city council meeting. McCullough acknowledged her resignation was a surprise because she said she didn’t discuss that with anyone.
Haugland said for now, McFerren will serve as interim mayor pro-tem. McFerren will have office hours at West Liberty City Hall. She will be there Mondays from 9 – 11 a.m., Wednesdays from 4 – 5 p.m. and Thursdays from 8:30 – 10 a.m.
At the first city council meeting in October, a discussion will be held with city council about the appointment process, Haugland said. Someone will have to be appointed as mayor within 60 days or a special election will be scheduled but wouldn’t happen until March 2023. There is no general election for any positions on city council this November.
The appointment process isn’t new to city councilmembers. Joshua Schiltz-Costa was appointed during the city council meeting Tuesday, Sept. 20, to replace Jose Zacarias, who resigned in August. Ashley Smith was another person appointed to city council in August after Diane Beranek’s resignation in June.
The next city council meeting will be Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 7:30 p.m. at the West Liberty Community Center.